Summary: The upright person finds favour with God and men. Emotional feelings like sorrow and joy is felt by the individual alone. Greatness of estate of the wicked will reduce, whereas estate of the righteous will steadily increase. Certain activities are deemed norm and acceptable by men, but is sin to God. The good and righteous person is positively rewarded and blessed by God. We must avoid being "simple", easily believing everything we hear. The prudent will investigate and study every detail before making decision. We need to control anger, and avoid making hasty, wrong decisions, and wrong actions which are later regretted. The prudent is glorified for his knowledge. Even the bad guys respect and honour the good and righteous person due to his good deeds.
9 9 Fools mock at sin,
But among the upright there is favor. (Proverbs 14:9) (NKJV)
9 9 God scorns the wicked,[d]
but the upright enjoy his favor. (Proverbs 14:9) (RSV)
9 9 Fools mock at making amends for sin,
but goodwill is found among the upright. (Proverbs 14:9) (NIV)
Favour - They find favour both with God and men.
The foolish and the wicked are so hardened in sinful habits and sinful activities so much so that they mock at sin. They laugh off at the sins of other peoples, sins by themselves. To them, sinning which have no bad consequences. They enjoy sinning and have no intention to depart from their evil ways.
The righteous and the upright are doing goodwill among each other, charitable deeds, giving alms, always saying and doing the right things. They find favour with God. Other people also like them for their good deeds.
10 10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy. (Proverbs 14:10) (NKJV)
10 10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,
and no one else can share its joy. (Proverbs 14:10) (NIV)
Bitterness - The inward griefs and joys of mens hearts, are not known to any but a man's self.
We do not know what stings of conscience, or consuming passions, torment the prosperous sinner. Nor does the world know the peace of mind a serious Christian enjoys, even in poverty and sickness.
When a person feels emotionally down, such as sorrowful, depressed, grief, only he himself can feel it. Other people can be empathetic or sympathetic, but cannot fill the real pain in the heart of the emotionally down.
Similarly, when a person is filled with joy and gladness, only he himself is able to feel this real joy. Others can watch, others can be joyful together, but cannot feel the joy in another's heart. As for spiritual joy, it is also individualistic. Spiritual joy is felt by the righteous person who walk in God's ways. He may share the good news, the gospel, but cannot share out the spiritual joy.
11 11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown,
But the tent of the upright will flourish. (Proverbs 14:11) (NKJV)
11 11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish. (Proverbs 14:11) (RSV)
Sin ruins many great families; whilst righteousness often raises and strengthens even mean families
Great families and huge estates will suffer downfall because of wrong deeds, sinful ways, unfair business practices, foolish financial management, wasting of money on carnal and worldly desires.
Families with mediocre income and little assets will also grow prosperous and increase in assets. For doing good deeds and living in righteous ways, they will be blessed by God in their work and business. They will grow in riches and wealth. They will gain honor and respect.
12 12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12) (NKJV)
12 12 There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 14:12) (NIV)
Right - There are some evil courses which men may think to be lawful and good. The end - The event shews that they were sinful and destructive.
The ways of carelessness, of worldliness, and of sensuality, seem right to those that walk in them; but self-deceivers prove self-destroyers. See the vanity of carnal mirth.
There are certain activities/norms that seem morally acceptable to men, but not acceptable to God. Example: fornication seemed to be ok for boyfriend and girlfriend in love with each other, but to God, this is a sin. Example: telling white lies, misrepresentation of financial accounts, exaggeration of business prospects in the prospectus, seemed to be widely practised, but a lie is a lie, a lie is a sin.The way of ignorance and carelessness, the way of worldliness and earthly-mindedness, the way of sensuality and flesh-pleasing, seem right to those that walk in them, much more the way of hypocrisy in religion. All these may seem right, but is actually wrong in the sight of God.
13 13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,
And the end of mirth may be grief. (Proverbs 14:13) (NKJV)
13 13 Even in laughter the heart is sad,
and the end of joy is grief. (Proverbs 14:13) (RSV)
13 13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and rejoicing may end in grief. (Proverbs 14:13) (NIV)
In laughter - The outward signs of joy are often mixed with real sorrow.
In merrymaking, partying and clubbing, there is plenty of laughter and seemingly happiness. In wine, women and song, there is plenty of laughter and seemingly happiness. If there is true sorrow in the heart, all the happiness during partying, during drinking, etc. is just temporary.
When the alcohol in blood is diminished, the original sorrow or grief still remains. When the music and the party ends, the sorrow and grief will be back. All the worldly entertainment can only bring temporary happiness.
For true joy, we should live in the Spirit, for the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, as per Galatians 4:22-23a. In God alone, can we find true and everlasting joy. Living our life in the principles of wisdom and ways of righteousness will bring us more joy than the worldly entertainment, and substance abuse (alcohol, ecstasy, etc.).
14 14 The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied from above.[a] (Proverbs 14:14) (NKJV)
In heart - He who departs from God inwardly. Filled - With the fruit of his ways, the punishment of his sins. Satisfied - From the pious temper of his own heart, which cleaves to the Lord, he shall receive unspeakable comfort.
14 14 A perverse man will be filled with the fruit of his ways,
and a good man with the fruit of his deeds.[f] (Proverbs 14:14) (RSV)
14 14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,
and the good rewarded for theirs. (Proverbs 14:14) (NIV)
The backslider in heart has tuned his heart away from God. Backslider could be a faithful believer who has somehow, for some reasons e.g. temptation or grievance, turned away from God. Anyway, the backslider, the perverse and the faithless are similar in one manner, they are all not living a righteous life. They are living in ways that are contrary to God's commands. They will be negatively rewarded due to their sins and wrongdoings in their lives.
On the contrary, the good and righteous man, is living a life full of good deeds, in obedience to God, is concerned about heavenly/spiritual matters, and will be rewarded and blessed by God. He will be positively rewarded for his righteous and godly ways, and his good deeds.
15 15 The simple believes every word,
But the prudent considers well his steps.
16 16 A wise man fears and departs from evil,
But a fool rages and is self-confident.
17 17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of wicked intentions is hated.
18 18 The simple inherit folly,
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 19 The evil will bow before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous. (Proverbs 14:15-19) (NKJV)
15 15 The simple believes everything,
but the prudent looks where he is going. (Proverbs 14:15) (RSV)
The simple - A foolish man. Looketh - He orders his dealings in the world with due circumspection, not considering so much what other men say as what he ought to do.
15 15 The simple believe anything,
but the prudent give thought to their steps. (Proverbs 14:15) (NIV)
The simple often takes things at face valve. The simple can easy believe other people. When faced with a false prophet or false teacher, the simple can easy sway and believer whatever said by the false prophet/teacher. The simple does not investigate in detail, and can easily jump to conclusion. The simple does not weigh and compare the options. The simple does not consider multiple points of view before deciding.
On the contrary, the prudent person is wiser. The prudent will consider every step, every detail. The prudent will investigate and study the case before making judgement. The prudent will compare the options before selecting. The prudent will make decision based on facts and figures, not hearsay, not gossip. The prudent does not easily believer some gossip, rumour or hearsay.
In these days where social media is popular, we have to be careful with the "news" and "updates" that we read. The news or updates in Facebook, Twitter, WhatApp, WeChat may not necessarily be true or accurate.
16 16 A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil,
but a fool throws off restraint and is careless.
17 17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
but a man of discretion is patient.[g] (Proverbs 14:16-17) (RSV)
Feareth - Trembles at God's judgments when they are either inflicted or threatened. Rageth - Frets against God; or is enraged against his messengers. Confident - Secure and insensible of his danger.
Foolishly - His passion hurries him into foolish speeches and actions. Wicked devices - One who suppresses his passion, but meditates revenge. Hated - Both by God and men.
16 The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,
but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.
but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.
17 A quick-tempered person does foolish things,
and the one who devises evil schemes is hated. (Proverbs 16-17) (NIV)
and the one who devises evil schemes is hated. (Proverbs 16-17) (NIV)
The wise person will always fear the Lord, live a righteous life, doing good deeds, obeying God's commands, slow to anger. He will avoid temptations and situations of sin. He will avoid doing anything which is evil in the eyes of God.
But the foolish person does not control himself, subject himself to temptations, allowing himself to partake in wrongful deeds. The foolish person is careless with his life, careless with his speech, and does control his temper. The foolish person gets angry easily, and over-reacts, and do things that he may regret otherwise. When a sinful temptation comes, such as a sexy and beautiful prostitute, he does not restrain himself from her seduction. In a quarrel with his wife, he may angrily chase his wife out of the house, or run away from home, or want to file for divorce.
To avoid doing foolish things during fits of anger, we must practice self-control to control outburst of anger. In anger, we must control our lips so as not to say things that will be regretted later. In anger, we must curtail our mind and thoughts so as not to make a hasty, wrong decision which is based on anger and not rationale.
Malicious men are justly dreaded and detested, for they are much more dangerous and mischievous to all societies: A man of wicked devices, who stifles his resentments till he has an opportunity of being revenged, and is secretly plotting how to wrong his neighbour and to do him an ill turn, as Cain to kill Abel, such a man as this is hated by all mankind. The character of an angry man is pitiable; through the surprise of a temptation he disturbs and disgraces himself, but it is soon over, and he is sorry for it.
18 18 The simple acquire folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. (Proverbs 14:18) (RSV)
Inherit - They possess it as their inheritance, holding it fast, and glorying in it. Knowledge - The saving knowledge of God and of their own duty.
Sin is the shame of sinners; but wisdom is the honour of the wise.
The prudent person is given honour and gains much knowledge. The prudent's head is filled with vast, useful knowledge. Because he is willing to learn, keen to learn, receptive to instruction and reproof.
On the other hand, the simple person takes things easy, and is too lazy to learn. He is not interested to know more and to learn more knowledge. With lack of knowledge, a lot of his thoughts and deeds are not based on knowledge and facts. The simple may enjoy hearing gossips and rumours. His lack of real knowledge is the folly.
The simple, who love simplicity, get nothing by it; they inherit folly. They have it by inheritance, so some. This corruption of nature is derived from our first parents, and all the calamities that attend it we have by kind; it was the inheritance they transmitted to their degenerate race, an hereditary disease. They are as fond of it as a man of his inheritance, hold it as fast, and are as loth to part with it.
19 19 The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous. (Proverbs 14:19) (RSV)
19 19 Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. (Proverbs 14:19) (NIV)
The evil - Good men shall have the pre - eminency over the wicked.
Even bad men acknowledge the excellency of God's people
The good and righteous person will be honoured by all, including the bad and wicked people. Because of the good deeds, the good and righteous person will earn the respect of the bad guys too. Good and wise words of the righteous are also pleasant to the ears of the bad guys too.
Saturday, Feb 8, 2014.
Michael Yeap.
NIV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+14&version=NIV
RSV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+14&version=RSV
NKJV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+14&version=NKJV
Commentaries:
Wesley: http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/wesleys-explanatory-notes/proverbs/proverbs-14.html
Matthew Henry - concise: http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/wesleys-explanatory-notes/proverbs/proverbs-14.html
9) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.14.9
10) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.14.10
11) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.14.11
12) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.14.12
13) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.14.13
14) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.14.14
15) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.14.15
16) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.14.16
17) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.14.17
18) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.14.18
19) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.14.19
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